CLIFTON PARK — The spirits at Historic Grooms Tavern may not be alive, but they are certainly well.

Earlier this year, the Capital Region ghost-hunting collective known as Glory Haunt Hounds conducted a series of paranormal investigations at the 19th-century tavern on the corner of Grooms and Sugar Hill roads.

The verdict: the place is practically packed with paranormal interlopers.

"Some of the stuff that happened, if I didn't see it myself I wouldn't think it were true," said Myla Kramer, director of parks, recreation and community affairs for Clifton Park, who took part in the investigations. "I do believe there are spirits there."

In July, veteran ghost hunter John Tobin and 12 other hunters undertook their first investigation of the tavern. Using standard ghost-tracking tools such as a DVR system, an electromagnetic field detector, pendulums and a "spirit box" to capture inaudible spirit voices by expelling white noise, the spirit hunters reported uncovering throngs of ghostly residents. In September, they went back, hoping they would uncover even more when construction work at the tavern disturbed the building's supposed populace.

The searches, of course, took place at night, and in the dark.

On Friday night, Tobin, who founded Glory Haunt Hounds, will present the group's findings at the tavern beginning at 7 p.m.

Kramer, who said she had a hunch there was a spiritual presence in the building, is now a firm believer and said she has had several encounters of her own. In one instance, she held a pendulum while a ghost hunter asked a spirit questions; the pendulum would swing one way for "yes," and another for "no." She was suspicious that the spirit would only answer "no," until she posed a question of her own. She asked if the spirit wanted the ghost hunter to stop talking, and the pendulum swung to "yes," she said.

"Obviously the spirit just didn't want to talk to him," she said.

In another instance, Kramer was sitting in the main room at the tavern — where the town's first board meeting occurred — when she felt someone, or perhaps something, touch her hair.

"I kind of jumped," she said. "I didn't want to be left alone in there."

Grooms Tavern was built around 1825, on the former site of a local grocery. The tavern, owned by a man named James Groom, was already operating when the town of Clifton Park was formed in 1828. As an inn and a tavern it served both townspeople and travelers along the Erie Canal. Much remains from its early days, including 19th-century hardware and an intricately carved interior Federal archway. By 1898, the inn and tavern had become, once again, a store.

In 1999 Clifton Park acquired the building after previous owners ran into financial trouble. It was restored and reopened as Historic Grooms Tavern in 2007. Today the town hosts cultural events there, such as lectures by the town historian and acoustic music concerts.

Who, exactly, the tavern's ghosts might be remains a mystery.

According to Tobin, as self-styled historian as well as an expert in the paranormal, no deaths were ever reported in the building. He said that the tavern's spirits appear to be friendly.

"There was not a single negative feeling at all in the building," he said.

One of the spirits appears to be a man who helped dig the tavern's basement, a young woman who made contact on two occasions and several children.

Spirits told the questioners that they are fans of most of the cultural programming in the building — especially musical performances. The spirits are not particular fans, though, of the many children who frequently attend such events.

Tobin was mum on details from the investigations — enthusiasts of the otherworldly will have to attend Friday's presentation to find out more.

"Let's just say there is certainly more than one spirit in the building," he said, "and they like to communicate."